With a change in perceptions of public nudity, naturism is becoming a more widely accepted practice.

So if you really want to embrace the sun and enjoy the warm weather as nature intended, here is a guide on where to go clothes-free in North Wales.

The law

It is not an offence to be naked in public in Wales.

The Crown Prosecution Service states that every case should be considered individually and that ‘a balance needs to be struck between the naturist’s right to freedom of expression and the right of the wider public to be protected from harassment, alarm and distress’.

Which means there must be a reason to believe person deliberately stripped off in order to upset or shock, before it can be considered an offence. And the complainant has to provide proof of this.
Even in these circumstances, it has to be considered whether or not prosecution is in the public interest.

So if you wish to enjoy recreational nudity such as swimming, sunbathing or taking a stroll in a public or open place and do so with consideration for others, you have a right to defend being clothes-free.

To put this into context, if you sunbathe nude on a quiet beach, minding your own business, it is unlikely that you will land foul of the law.

But if you decide to take a long stroll through town naked, you will probably find yourself approached by a police officer before you got to the end of the high street.

There are three laws that can be applied against the act of nudity which any nudist needs to be aware of, but again it is very circumstantial and is open to interpretation.

The Sex Offences Act of 2003: Indecent Exposure

This relates specifically to sexually motivated intentional exposure of genitals, commonly known as flashing. By going about sunbathing or swimming nude discreetly, it is unlikely you will get any trouble, but if you choose to wave your private parts at a passer-by, you are sure to be in breach of an offence.

(b)he intends that someone will see them and be caused alarm or distress.

Oddly, this law doesn’t appear to be applicable to women.

The Public Order Act of 1986

This prohibits behavior that is “threatening, abusive or insulting within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress”.

So if you are naked and not bothering anyone, and mindful of beach nudity etiquette it is unlikely you will encounter any problems. However if someone asks you to cover up – be it a member of the public or a police officer, you should do so or risk arrest.

Outraging Public Decency

A common law offence that covers actions in public places that ‘outrage generally accepted standards of decency’ in the presence of at least two people, even if they didn’t witness the offence.

This law is currently under consultation to restate in statute with a strengthened fault element to the effect that the defendant ‘must be shown to have intended to generate, or realised that he or she might generate, outrage, shock or disgust in ordinary people.

The Law Commission also recommended that the two person requirement be removed.

Where can I go clothes-free?

In your garden

Confining nudity to an area of the garden which can be out of view from neighbours is an easy way of being able to enjoy the sun naked.

But if this is not possible, it is a good idea to perhaps warn any potential witnesses of your intentions to avoid any shocks or surprises.

On a beach

Technically, it is not illegal to go nude on a beach. It is advised to pick a spot out of view of others, with reasonable actions taken to avoid offending others. But if the thought of going naked on a general beach is a bit too daunting, you can visit walkingclub.org.uk to find local designated naturist beaches.

In North Wales, there are two recommended naturist friendly beaches- one officially recognised as a clothes-free area, and the other recommended by nudists.

Morfa Dyffryn beach near Barmouth – Satnav: LL44 2HD

This beach is acclaimed as one of the best beaches in Britain by visitors and has been used by naturists since the 1930s. Gwynedd local authority have designated an area of the beach for those who wish to go clothes-free. This patch is about a mile in length and backs onto acres of scrubland. The beach is clean and the waters are clear with a slow tide which means swimming is possible too.

It is also noted that the sheer size of the beach and the mixed crowd makes first time naturists feel particularly safe and unselfconscious.

Newborough beach in Malltraeth Bay, Anglesey – Satnav: LL61 6SG

Newborough Beach, Anglesey frequented by nudists

Newborough Warren and the nearby beach at Malltraeth Bay are situated at the south-west corner of of Anglesey.

Described as having “breathtaking landscape and unspoilt sands” and “ superb views of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula” this is one of several beautiful beaches along this part of the coast. Newborough Warren is also a nature reserve. The beach itself is of fine, golden sand, backed by dunes.

It is said that most naturists gather in the area to the south of the car park – midway between Llanddwyn Island and Abermenai Point.
Users describe the beach as clean, quiet and a relaxed attitude to naturism.

However Natural Resources Wales who are in charge of Newborough and Llanddwyn beaches say they do not promote nudism on the two sites and that a number of complaints are made by people to have encountered nudity at the beaches. So it is important to make sure that as this is not an official nudist beach, you pick a spot well out of view to enjoy bathing.

Skinny Dipping

(Photo: Channel 4)

Like sunbathing in the nude, skinny dipping is not considered a crime and there is no specific legislation which prohibits it. However discretion is strongly advised to avoid being accused of indecent exposure. Avoid busy areas and peak visiting times at your chosen location. Find a quiet spot, away from unsuspecting eyes. And leave a cover up such as a towel close by so you can cover up quickly if required.

In North Wales, some of the preferred natural swimming locations such as lakes and pools can be deep and cold, so be sure to test the water before jumping in naked.

Good Nude Beach Etiquette

(Photo: Getty Images)

If you aren’t a seasoned naturist, it will be a good idea to take a look at the suggested guidelines for nude bathing. Here are some do’s and don’t to help make your trip into naturism as enjoyable as possible.

Check the guidelines and be sure that the beach doesn’t have restrictions regarding nudity.

At unofficial nudist beaches, don’t remove clothing until you reach the tolerated nudist area. As a rule of thumb, it will be as far as you can go from the entrance and still be on the beach.

Don’t stare. Don’t approach strangers and be mindful that most people usually do not want to be disturbed or leered at.

Cover up with a towel if you wish to converse with other beach-goers and avoid approaching non-naturists

If taking pictures, let people know so they can move or cover up if they want to. But it’s more considerate to find an alternative spot to take your picture.

Do not photograph children. Even photographing your own children nude can raise concerns with others.

If you plan on doing a spot of bird watching, be mindful and don’t point your binoculars at other beach visitors.

Keep a cover up close at all times. If you are asked to cover-up (by anyone) on an unofficial nude beach in the UK, you must do so.

No explicit behaviour. The Sexual Offences Act (2003) does not prohibit sex outdoors in isolated places so long as you have a reasonable amount of privacy. However, you could be prosecuted for a public order offence if others are present, or witness you in the act.

Leave the beach as you found it and take all items and rubbish with you when you leave.

Like this:

Back from vacation.

You probably noticed I am back. No more England nor Wales, no more driving on the left side which is the right side there (will this joke ever get old? Not with me!). And no more ancient castles.

Ancient castles.

Say what you want but ancient castles are special. Huge blocks of stone, hundreds of years old, built with primitive means and still standing. (More or less in many cases, due to neglect.)

How long would the average modern house stay upright?

The castle here is called Dolwyddelan. It’s located in Wales and I can only guess how one properly pronounces it since Welsh is a language that consists mainly of consonants. Any vowel found there is usually a mistake. The door at the top of the stairs had a lock on it but the lock didn’t keep the door locked. For me of course the best reason to go inside and have a look!

Llewellyn I.

This castle was built by order of prince Llewellyn I. When it was a home to people it looked a lot better than it does now, and bigger too. Still I wouldn’t want to live in their circumstances. Hygiene, cold, smells, to name a few things that weren’t too big a deal back then.

And since I was the only there at that time (a few people I met in the parking lot told me they had seen a lock and decided the door was locked) I took the liberty of roaming the inside of the castle in the nude. If you have the opportunity you should grab it. How many people can say they wandered around an ancient castle in the buff? I can.